Toys R Us vs Nature

Yesterday I saw a commercial for Toys R Us that shocked me.  The ad was filmed over 3 days, during which the toy store company took 200 kids from various charities in New York on a supposed nature field trip.  The surprise for the kids was, that twenty minutes into the bus ride, they were told they weren't going to the forest, instead they were going to Toys R Us and could pick any toy they wanted.  

While the toy company is charitably giving toys to underprivileged kids, the way that this has been done and portrayed in the advert sends a really bad message out to kids - showing a nature trip to be 'boring' but a trip to the toy store as a far better and more fun option. 

I think if the advert had just shown the kids being given the toys I would have had a more positive impression of Toys R Us, seeing them giving something back to the community. 

However, they have tried to show how exciting their store is, and how it is the place to find magic and make kids smile

by contrasting it with something that kids find boring and not fun. 

 To have chosen a nature field trip as this 'boring contrast' is just plain shocking.  Surely we are all aware of the need for kids to get active, have some fresh air and outdoor play. 

The comments on the Toys R Us Facebook page link to this advert show other people's reactions. 160 comments so far, mostly from people who are disgusted with the way Toys R Us have chosen to portray their store in this advert.  

The senior vice-president of marketing at Toys R Us in America said, "we wanted our new marketing campaign to cause viewers to pause and be reminded of the true joy that lies at the centre of gift giving." (source).  

This made me think of Giving Trees where donations are asked for to give underprivileged kids some toys for Christmas.  There are times when only 'new' toys will be accepted for these Giving Trees. 

My kids are certainly not underprivileged, but I have often bought them gifts of toys or books from charity shops.  Why is it seen as a necessity that every child should have fancy new toys?

 I think it's really sad that our society focuses on toys and material goods as something that constitutes a privilege for children.  This weekend in our Sunday newspaper, I read an article about a family who had decided that had too much 'stuff' and this year (2013) are trying not to buy anything new.   One thing she found immediately was that when she cleared away a lot of her kids toys, this was one of the best things she could have done. Instead of her spending endless time clearing up the mess of toys and putting them away (haven't we all felt like that as parents). Her kids didn't miss their piles of toys, and in fact played for longer and with more creativity and imagination without so many toys.

I realise that Toys R Us are a company that sells toys, and they are hardly likely to tell kids that they don't need toys to have a fun time, that they can have just as much fun playing with their friends outside with no toys at all.  However, I think they should be a little more responsible in how they try to sell their toys.  Showing a nature trip as being boring and uncool is not very responsible in my mind.

What do you you think?  Go and watch the advert and see for yourself, it's only 1 minute long.

I'll make you one!

For me growing up - there was a lot of DIY in our house.  Dad was always very handy around the house and garden, making all sorts of things out of wood and metal.  Mum was a whiz with the sewing machine - able to make anything and everything you could imagine.

The preferred option was defnitely to make it ourselves if we wanted something. Mum made lots of soft toys for my brother and myself, endless clothes, funky fun rubbish bins for our bedrooms, bags.... and Dad made tables, a TV turntable, a dolls house for me, a castle for my brother......  It was great!

Now I myself sew and love making things for the girls.  They seem to like anything and everything I make - even the disasters!  Their friends also like handmade gifts for birthdays, which is brilliant as it means you know you're giving something unique!

On our recent holiday, the girls spotted an arcade grabber game which was full of cuddly Angry Bird toys to win.  They both wanted to play the game and try to win - but instead agreed that I could make them their own Angry Birds .

So on our return from holiday, I found a tutorial online and made a red bird to test the pattern.

Both girls loved it and then chose which birds they each wanted.

They then spent the next few days gradually making and adding to 'homes' for their soon to be made Angry Birds!

Today I finished the birds and so they can be welcomed into their new homes.

The girls are slowly learning to sew too - and as you can see from these Angry Bird Houses - are already little budding DIYers!

I think it's good that the girls are growing up knowing there's an alternative to just buying things you desire.  The Angry Birds they wanted to try and win - may have cost $2 each if they had been successful in the arcade game first time.  But those games are not designed so that everyone wins every time. So it could well have been a lost $2 each and no Angry Bird toy!  Or you can find Angry Bird toys in the shops for a few more dollars.

The Angry Birds I made for the girls cost nothing but a little time and scraps of fabric that I already had. Making things yourself also lets you personalise and make things that extra little bit special and unique!

Do you ever make things for your kids? Or did your parents, aunties or grandparents make things for you when you were younger?